Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-04
THAT INVESTIGATION.
[oontin~ed from First Rpse,l

COnfinHed IRON FefSe rage-I
Institutions, and every possible means to
prevent such occurrences has been en-
ployed.
It is charged by said report that Local
Directors have received small amounts OF
the products of the garden, and that Of
icers occasionally make presents of such
products
IL is true that the gardener of the Institu-
ton feels a natural pride in his success,
and has upon some rare occasions, OF py
direction OF some Of the officers Of the In
stitutiou, caused few strawberries and
few punches of celery to be delivered to
the families of the Local Board, more as
commitment than a. a matter of substance
or yalue. and without solicitation by any
member of the Board, and to those, too,
who have devoted days and hours vOluntar-
| ily to the interests OF the Institution, with
out one cent compensation for their ser
vices.
They say washing is sometimes done at
the Hospital for persons living IN Weston.
/ The disclosures OF the testimony IN respect
10 this matter show it TO be 80 insignlh-
cantly small with respect to the number OF
persons that it would seem to be hardly
worthy of notice, but for the inference OF
such general habit that might be deduced
from its presentation. 1t does seem to be
true that some articles of clothing were
washed al the Institution for two unmar-
ried sons of DIR. Bland and for visiting
unmarried daughter OF the worthy matron
of the Institution.
IL Is stated that the horses and omnibus
lof the Hospital have been used to convey
persons to political conventions at dis
lance. The statement here is, to political
| conventions.
This is not true. II IS true that some Of
the employees did upon one occasion use
the omnibus and horses to convey them TO
a political meeting some eight or ten miles
| distant.
The report further states that the per
sistent misuse of the liquor at the hospital
| is remarkable, .. and il occasions some sur
prise to US in this matter that they report
| that officers Of the hospital occasionally
use as a beverage liquor belonging to the
hospital, and that some of the directors
use liquor in the drug room.
! This may have occurred TO very small
| and insignificant extent.
! From the very frequent indulgence in
the use OF the hospital whisky during the
brief and hurried visit Of this investigating
committee, which is j1Tdtsd to us, we
! hazard nothing in saying that the supply
will be more surely preserved, should some
OF them continue to occupy more distant
relation to the institution.
IN. l. - hna his
account of the use Of liquor for the whole
OF the year, except about one month
thereof, for which computation IS made by
the druggist, that seyenty-ive gallons
Thereof were used for the patients in the
halls and fOrty-eight gallons for culinary
and miscellaneous purposes, which would
leave five gallons unaccounted Tor. The
druggist further states that during that
wear he was absent on several occasions,
leaving the keys with officers whose duty
it would he to dispense the same, and for
which he has no full account.
We discover that it is not true as stated
in the report of the committee that la
gallons of whisky were bought in the year
from October |, 1885, to September 30,
1886. The truth IS there were bought
from the Doth Of August, 1855, to March
II, 1887, rs gallons, covering period oil
eighteen and half months.
In the Western Lunatic Asylum at
StauntOn, Virginia, with between 500 aud
900 patients, there is issued annually over
400 gallons Of whisky.
Ii is alleged in said report that the in
spector of beef at the Hospital has been In
the habit OF receiving presents OF meat for
the use of his family from the contractors
who supply the same The existence oil
this fact was unknown to every member Of
this Board, and we understand unknown
to the Superintendent, and the Superinten
dent has forbidden its continuance since II
has come to his knowledge. We are salts
fed the institution has suffered nothin9
by it.
A suggestion is made in the report of thu
incompetency of the engineer of the Hos
pital but they say there is difference
among them as to whether the charge
has been sustained OF not. We have rea
son TO believe that this imputatiOn OF in
, competency had its origin in the feeling
of some dissatisfied subordinates and dis
charged employees We regard him a
qualified to till the place.
Said report alleges that the large
amount of personal property belonging to
the State at the Hospital needs rigid sys
tenn of accounting for " What is intended
: to be imputed by this statement, is no.
made to appear by it. By the bylaws
the farmer has charge of the farming i'm
I Elements, and he is held thereby response
BILE for the safe keeping of the same, and
to record the names OF the articles, and h
has in like manner charge of all the stock
Of the farm.
In respect to the charge Of want o
executive ability founded rs stated III thu
Judgment Of the cOBEmdtes,," we have thu:
to say: that results which involve Away;
, in matters of this kind, aud which must
show, either the possession or absence OF
executive ability, or some measure or de
, gree OF executive ability, is the safest test
of its existence in the Superintendent
COniectures or opinions often proceed
ing from prejudice or rival interests arr
not safe tests.
/ This Board, a number Of whom have
been members not only in the present ad
ministratiOn Of the Institution, but Of for
mer administrations OF it, have had not
only an opportunity to judge of results
but inquiry, Investigation aud inspection
have been duty deyOlying upon them,
and we do not hesitate TO say that We eau
challenge a comparison upon all the points
essential in the management of suchau In
stitutiOn with any other similar Institu-
tiOn anywhere.
The reports of the present and of the
former Boards of this institution vindicate
the statements here made. and we accom-
pany this communication to Your. Excel
lency with an elaborate compilation from
reports of other institutions of the United
States, which we have caused to be made
10 Justify the challenge which We have
4 made for cOmpariSOn